Water butt to use with car pressure washer

techno79

I'm getting a car port installed and I had (incorrectly) assumed rain water drainage would go straight into the drain. I have now learnt that this is not good as it creates unnecessary load in the sewage drainage water.

I've been looking into getting a water butt but I'm not into gardening so I wouldn't really need to use the water. It was then suggested that I can get a car pressure washer that can be fed from the water butt.

I'm not mega bothered about cleaning my car but I figured using a pressure washer a few times a month with a snow foam attachment would probably help use up the water and help keep my car a little cleaner. I'm not keen on spending huge amounts of time on the car so something I can quickly do is best.

Are there any suggestions on what water butt and pressure washer I'd need?

DaftyDuck

Where will the water saved from the drain go when it is subsequently used by the pressure washer to clean your car?

I understand the desire. However, pressure washers and unclean water are not good bedfellows, and the saving on water costs would be minimal.

bertiewhite

techno79 wrote: »

I'm getting a car port installed and I had (incorrectly) assumed rain water drainage would go straight into the drain. I have now learnt that this is not good as it creates unnecessary load in the sewage drainage water.

Who has told you this? It's not answering your question but is it worth trying to get the sewerage element of your water bill reduced?

techno79

Just to clarify a few things. The water run off from the pressure washer will go into the grassy part of the garden. But it will be more spread out than if the drainage pipe from the canopy just pointed to a single spot on the grassy garden.

The primary reason to do this is not save water. Without the car port, the bulk of the rain will fall on the grassy area of my garden which would naturally soak up the water. If I have the car port drainage go directly into the drain then I feel like it's morally wrong and thus my two options are to install a soak away (very expensive) or I can collate the water in a water butt and then use/disperse this water as and when needed. Using it in conjunction with a pressure washer seems to be have the added benefit that my car will get a few cleans too.

I've seen some Karcher pressure washers that can be fitted with a suction hose to use water from a water butt. It contains filters to take out the impurities. I wasn't sure how good these were or whether there was something better, hence the post.

Davesnave

bertiewhite wrote: »

Who has told you this? It's not answering your question but is it worth trying to get the sewerage element of your water bill reduced?

While water from roofs and gullies was once routed into sewers, in the second half of the C20th people began to question the sense of this and regulations were altered, as were charges.

The rules weren't applied retrospectively, so there will be a minority of properties still paying more than they might. The OP would have to look into this. If their main roof water goes to the sewers, it's doubtful that installing an expensive soak away to the car port alone would be financially worthwhile.

bertiewhite

Davesnave wrote: »

No it isn't. One assumes the OP's bodily functions are the same as yours and mine, so sewerage charges apply, unless they have their own disposal system.

While water from roofs and gullies was once routed into sewers, in the second half of the C20th people began to question the sense of this and regulations were altered.

and that's why I posted - my work colleague only pays 50% of his sewerage element because only his internal sewerage goes into the system. His rainwater goes to a soak away.

Davesnave

bertiewhite wrote: »

and that's why I posted - my work colleague only pays 50% of his sewerage element because only his internal sewerage goes into the system. His rainwater goes to a soak away.

Sorry, I understand what you mean now. I will amend my earlier post.

It's possible, not in terms of the car port on its own, which would not be very cost-effective, but if all the run off already goes to soak aways and the OP can prove it, then it might be game-on.